Cebu City’s JO, contract workers now SSS members

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Government has partnered with the Social Security System (SSS) to allow at least 3,000 Job Order (JO) and Contract of Service (COS) workers to gain access to SSS membership and benefits through the SSS KaSSSangga Collect Program.

Under a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed recently, SSS will register the city government’s JO and COS workers as self-employed members, while the Cebu City government will implement an automatic salary deduction scheme to ensure the timely remittance of SSS contributions.

SSS Visayas Central 1 Division Acting Vice President Eric A. Coronado welcomed the partnership, expressing hope that it would encourage other local government units in the province to adopt similar initiatives.

“We thank the Cebu City government for prioritizing the social protection of its Job Order and Contract of Service workers. We hope this partnership will inspire other local government units to take similar steps in ensuring that JO and COS workers receive the protection they deserve,” Coronado said in a statement.

Coronado emphasized that regular and timely remittance of contributions allows self-employed members to access essential SSS benefits, including sickness, maternity, disability, retirement, death, and funeral benefits, as well as loan programs that help promote financial security.

“Regular contributions ensure continuous protection for members and their families,” he added.

Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival likewise underscored the importance of extending social security coverage to non-regular city government employees.

“It is very important that our job order workers and contract of service employees have security not only today but also during times of hardship and in their old age. I also thank SSS for this partnership for the welfare of our city workers,” Archival said.

The SSS–Cebu City partnership is the first agreement sealed by the Visayas Central 1 Division for 2026, reinforcing SSS’ commitment to expanding social security coverage to all working Filipinos in line with its mandate to provide meaningful social protection and security. — (FREEMAN)